The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) has released a response to submissions on the draft Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill (No.2 2022) following a 12-week consultation period.
The Bill proposes amendments to the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Resources Act 1967 (PGERA), Petroleum Pipelines Act 1969 (PPA) and Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982 (PSLA) in two distinct streams.
It addresses a number of urgent petroleum operational-based amendments relating to environmental aspects, royalty calculation, underground storage and additives. The Bill also introduces the ability to explore for, and produce, naturally occurring hydrogen.
DMIRS Resource and Environmental Compliance Division's Acting Executive Director Dan Endacott said the Bill will modernise the Petroleum Acts and help build foundations to deliver the State's objective of net-zero emissions by 2050.
"Not only is the department improving regulatory practice by ensuring our regulatory instruments are contemporary, we are also supporting an emerging industry that will play a role in Western Australia's clean energy future.
"Bringing natural hydrogen into the legislative framework shows the department is actively embracing change and planning for the future, and I would like to thank everyone who provided their valuable feedback."
The Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) is one of three petroleum legislative reform initiatives the department is progressing, including the Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 and the Petroleum Legislation Amendment Bill (B) 2022.
These individual Amendment Bills will be consolidated into a single Bill for introduction into Parliament later this year.
